AS I pen this final instalment of my weekly column for the Zimbabwe Independent, I find myself reflecting on a year that has felt like a quantum jump in human ingenuity.
The world of artificial intelligence (AI) has accelerated at a pace that defies comprehension.
In just 25 days across November and December, four major AI models launched: xAI’s Grok 4.1, Google’s Gemini 3, Anthropic’s Claude 4.5, and OpenAI’s latest upgrade.
These breakthroughs are transforming technology use, especially in fields such as aviation and space exploration. As we enter a multi-planetary era, these advances challenge us to make sure innovation connects people, benefiting Zimbabwe and Africa as much as the rest of the world.
Let us begin with aviation, an industry pivotal to global connectivity and increasingly vital for Africa’s economic take-off. In 2025, AI has transformed aviation from a reactive sector into a predictive powerhouse.
Traditional maintenance schedules, often rigid and inefficient, are giving way to AI-driven systems that analyse vast datasets from aircraft sensors in real-time.
By forecasting potential failures before they occur, these tools have slashed unscheduled downtime significantly.
For instance, Delta Air Lines reported a 20% reduction in unexpected maintenance events through AI integration, optimising resources and enhancing safety.
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Globally, the AI in aviation market is projected to soar to US$6,47 billion by 2033, fuelled by applications in predictive maintenance, autonomous operations, and even customer service chatbots that personalise travel experiences.
Autonomous systems are another frontier where AI is taking flight. Airports worldwide are deploying AI for everything from biometric security checks to self-driving baggage carts and drone-based inspections.
In predictive analytics, AI sifts through historical data and live feeds to anticipate issues such as engine wear or structural fatigue, reducing costs and emissions.
For sustainable aviation, AI optimises fuel usage and routes, aligning with global pushes for greener skies. In Zimbabwe, where the aviation sector is poised for growth through government investments and airport upgrades, these technologies could revolutionise regional travel.
Imagine AI enabling affordable, efficient flights connecting Harare to regional hubs, boosting trade and tourism. Yet, as Sedgwick’s recent report notes, AI’s role in making aviation “smarter and safer” hinges on robust regulations to mitigate risks such as data biases or cyber vulnerabilities.
Shifting our gaze upward, AI’s influence on space exploration in 2025 has been nothing short of revolutionary, blurring the lines between earthly computation and cosmic ambition.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) unveiled a cutting-edge Rover Operations Centre this year, leveraging AI to support Moon and Mars missions.
This facility combines AI with advanced tools for autonomous rover navigation, data analysis, and mission planning, essential for distant operations where real-time human intervention is impossible.
For Mars, AI empowers spacecraft to land precisely, explore autonomously, and even study the planet’s ancient magnetic fields, unlocking clues about its habitability.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is similarly gearing up AI for lunar Gateway operations and robotic expeditions such as ExoMars, enhancing efficiency on the moon’s surface. But perhaps the most audacious development is the push toward off-world data centres.
As AI models grow exponentially hungrier for energy—Grok 4.1 and its peers demand computational power that strains Earth’s grids, innovators are looking skyward.
Startup Aetherflux announced the “Galactic Brain” project in 2025, aiming to deploy orbital data centres powered by space-based solar energy. Proposals for lunar or Martian facilities follow suit, promising unlimited clean power to fuel AI’s insatiable needs. This is not just about efficiency; it is about commodifying space as a resource hub, accelerating humanity’s multi-planetary aspirations.
Major tech firms are exploring orbital computing to handle AI workloads, potentially transforming space from a frontier of wonder into an extension of our digital infrastructure. NASA’s ongoing Mars studies, including atmospheric and geological analyses, underscore this shift, with AI sifting through petabytes of data to reveal planetary secrets.
Amid these technological triumphs, a poignant reminder comes from those who have witnessed Earth from afar: astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Marking 25 years of continuous human presence in orbit this November, the ISS has hosted over 250 individuals from 19 countries, fostering unprecedented collaboration.
The “Overview Effect”, a term coined by space philosopher Frank White, captures the profound shift many experience: viewing Earth as a fragile, borderless blue marble suspended in the void.
Astronauts describe seeing no national boundaries, only a thin atmosphere shielding life from the cosmos, a “glowing blue sphere” that highlights our interconnected vulnerability.
In 2025, fresh images from the ISS, such as the ethereal green glow of Earth’s atmosphere or swirling clouds over continents, reinforce this unity. One veteran, after 178 days in space, returned emphasising the artificiality of divisions and the urgency of global stewardship. As AI propels us toward the stars, these perspectives urge us to carry Earth’s lessons: cooperation over conflict, sustainability over exploitation.
For Zimbabwe and Africa, this AI-cosmic nexus holds transformative potential. In 2025, Zimbabwe approved its first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to drive digital transformation responsibly.
Initiatives like Cassava Technologies’ partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation are expanding AI access for NGOs, fostering economic opportunity across the continent.
In space, Zimbabwe is on the cusp of launching its first satellite, advancing national capabilities in communication and earth observation.
AI could optimise sustainable aviation fuels, enhancing connectivity in a region where air travel links vast distances. Satellite constellations such as Starlink are already bridging rural digital divides, enabling AI-driven education and healthcare in remote areas.
Yet challenges loom: limited infrastructure hampers AI adoption, risking widened inequalities. As the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (Afrodad) posits, AI could be a “silver bullet” for socioeconomic transformation, but only if inclusive policies ensure equitable access.
Africa’s space industry, projected to grow through collaborations and expansions, must prioritise local talent to avoid dependency.
In closing this chapter of my column, I leave you with hope. 2025’s AI leaps into aviation and space are not just about reaching farther; they are about redefining what it means to be human in a vast universe.
From Zimbabwe’s bustling markets to the silent orbits above, let us harness these tools to unite, not divide, to protect our fragile home while dreaming of the stars. Thank you for joining me on this journey; may our shared destiny be one of wonder and wisdom.
- Bangure is a filmmaker with a media degree and substantial experience in media production and management at Zimpapers. He previously served as the chairperson of the National Employment Council for the Printing, Packaging, and Newspaper Industry. A dedicated enthusiast and scholar of artificial intelligence, Bangure combines his creative and technical skills to delve into innovative advancements. — info@ hub-edutech.com.
